1. Activate prior knowledge about instruments used to measure weather.
Ask: What instruments do scientists use to measure weather? Students will likely be able to name a thermometer, but they may not be able to name any other instruments that measure weather. Explain to students that there are many more tools scientists use to measure weather. They even use their eyes as important instruments for measuring visibility and making observations.

2. Have small groups create decks of cards.
Divide students into small groups. Distribute one copy of the worksheet Instruments That Measure Weather to each group. Have the group cut apart the cards to create a deck and divide the cards evenly among group members.

3. Have small groups match illustrations and descriptions.
Ask students to look at all of the illustrations of instruments that measure weather. Have each group choose one student to start the activity. The starting student will read the clues on the back of a card. The student who thinks they have the matching illustration will give it to the starting student and explain why they think it is a match. Then the student to the left reads the clues on the back of the next card, and play continues around the circle until all illustrated cards have a matching description.

 

4. Have students use the photo gallery Instruments That Measure Weather to check answers.

Display the photo gallery and have a whole-class discussion to check groups' answers. (Answers: Instrument 1: thermometer; Instrument 2: barometer; Instrument 3: hygrometer; Instrument 4: anemometer; Instrument 5: precipitation gauge; Instrument 6: sling psychrometer; Instrument 7: wind vane; Instrument 8: weather satellite; Instrument 9: observations; Instrument 10: visibility; Instrument 11: pyranometer) Finally, have groups glue together the matching cards until they have a full deck of 11 cards to use as flashcards.

5. Have students make connections to weather on other planets.
Have a whole-class discussion about the questions below. In between each, allow students time to discuss the question in their small groups and then report back to the whole class:

  • Which instruments do you think would be most valuable in determining weather on other planets? Why?
  • Which would not be helpful at all? Why not?
  • What modifications would be required for the instrument to handle the conditions on another planet?

Informal Assessment

Use the student-created flashcards to check students' comprehension of what each tool is and how it measures weather conditions.

Subjects & Disciplines

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • define and describe weather-measuring instruments
  • describe units of measure for different types of weather measurement instruments
  • determine which instruments would not be helpful on other planets

Teaching Approach

  • Learning-for-use

Teaching Methods

  • Discussions
  • Simulations and games

Skills Summary

This activity targets the following skills:

Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices

National Science Education Standards

What You’ll Need

Materials You Provide

  • Glue sticks
  • Pencils
  • Pens
  • Scissors

Required Technology

  • Internet Access: Optional
  • Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector

Physical Space

  • Classroom

Grouping

  • Small-group instruction

Background Information

Scientist use a variety of instruments to measure weather. Before we can collect data on other planets, we must understand what data is collected on our own planet, and how it is collected.

Prior Knowledge

  • None

Recommended Prior Activities

Vocabulary

anemometer
Noun

a device that measures wind speed.
barometer
Noun

an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure.
hygrometer
Noun

device for measuring humidity, or the amount of water vapor in the air.
observation
Noun

something that is learned from watching and measuring an object or pattern.
planet
Noun

large, spherical celestial body that regularly rotates around a star.
precipitation gauge
Noun

device for measuring rain or other forms of liquid precipitation, usually in millimeters. Also called a rain gauge, udometer, pluviometer, or ombrometer.
pyranometer
Noun

device for measuring the amount of sunlight reaching a planet's surface. Also called a solarimeter.
sling psychrometer
Noun

device for measuring humidity that uses two thermometers: one measures the air temperature while the bulb of the other is kept cool and moist. The sling psychrometer is whirled around until moisture from the wet bulb evaporates.
thermometer
Noun

device that measures temperature.
visibility
Noun

the ability to see or be seen with the unaided eye. Also called visual range.
weather
Noun

state of the atmosphere, including temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation, and cloudiness.
weather satellite
Noun

instrument that orbits the Earth to track weather and patterns in the atmosphere.
wind vane
Noun

device that rotates to show the direction the wind is blowing. Also called a weather vane.

Websites

  • Credits

    Media Credits

    The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

    Writer

    Anna Mika, M.S. Ed., NASA Network of Educator Astronaut Teachers (NEAT)

    Editors

    Anne Haywood, National Geographic Society
    Christina Riska Simmons

    Educator Reviewers

    Dianne Koval Butler, Manager, Education Outreach & Partnerships, Lockheed Martin Corporate Communications
    Naveen Cunha, M.Ed., Science Teacher, Stephen F. Austin Middle School, Bryan, Texas; NASA/Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow

    Expert Reviewer

    Buddy Nelson, Media Relations, Lockheed Martin Space Systems

    National Geographic Program

    Wildest Weather in the Solar System

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